📖 Arc 2 – Chapter 36: Battle for D.C.
[Scene 1 – Descent into Chaos]
The Quinjet tore through the skies, its engines howling against the turbulent currents of corrupted air. Below, Washington D.C. no longer resembled the capital of a nation. The Washington Monument stood half-buried in writhing obsidian vines, pulsing with red-black veins of corruption. Shadows of civilians ran in every direction—some chased by twisted anomaly beasts, others caught in traps of living web-like sludge.
Tony (in armor, scanning the ground): "Jesus… this isn't just spreading, it's rewriting the city."
Velgrynd (glaring down, flames burning around her): "Like a parasite claiming its host. I'll burn it clean."
Neo (gripping Aeternus): "…Not yet. First, we find the corrupted Avenger. Cut off the source, then we purge the roots."
[Scene 2 – Shock and Awe]
The group leapt down, hitting the ground like meteors.
• Thor's hammer smashed into a horde of corrupted beasts, lightning crackling across the battlefield.
• Zhongli's geo domes rose around trapped civilians, protecting them while Natasha darted in to cut them free.
• Steve's shield ricocheted through three tendril-beasts, returning to his hand with perfect timing.
• Tony's drones deployed midair, weaving into a lattice of plasma beams that vaporized dozens of anomaly spawn.
The capital shook from their coordinated strike, yet the corruption only writhed harder, growing like it enjoyed the fight.
[Scene 3 – The Boss Reveals Itself]
A shadow tore free from the monument. Landing hard enough to crater the marble steps, the corrupted figure straightened, chains of darkness slithering from its arms. The face became clear—one they all recognized.
Natasha (eyes narrowing): "…Clint."
The corrupted Hawkeye's bow glowed with black fire, arrows forming from the corruption itself. His voice was a hollow echo.
Corrupted Hawkeye: "You… left me behind."
An arrow launched, faster than sound. Neo intercepted, Aeternus ringing as it absorbed the corrupted force and dissipated it into nihility dust.
Neo: "Hawkeye, huh? Looks like we've got our boss."
[Scene 4 – Coordinated Chaos]
The group split into roles instantly:
• Steve and Natasha moved in tandem to pressure Clint at close range, Natasha weaving past arrows while Steve's shield blocked chain lashings.
• Thor and Velgrynd unleashed long-range elemental bombardment, forcing Hawkeye to constantly reposition under lightning storms and firestorms.
• Tony and Zhongli contained the battlefield—Tony's drones cutting down incoming anomaly reinforcements while Zhongli's geo barriers kept civilians safe.
• Neo pushed center stage, Aeternus blazing with both nihility and haki, clashing head-on with Hawkeye's corrupted bow.
Every arrow carried enough force to shatter skyscrapers, but Neo's strikes consumed them one after another.
Seraphina (calm, clinical in Neo's mind): «Warning: Corrupted energy density is increasing. He is drawing strength directly from the monument nexus.»
Neo (gritting teeth): "Then I'll break the nexus with him!"
[Scene 5 – Turning the Tide]
Velgrynd's voice cut through the battlefield, sharp and commanding.
Velgrynd: "Neo! Use me as cover—my flames will devour the corrupted air, you pierce the source!"
She unleashed a spiral inferno, burning a path straight through the vines clutching the monument. Neo leapt, Aeternus transforming midair into a glaive. His haki-coated strike cleaved through the corruption lines feeding Clint, severing the tether.
The backlash hit instantly. Hawkeye screamed, corruption flaring as if enraged. Dozens of spectral arrows rained down on the group, detonating across the city block.
Tony (deploying full shield matrix): "Everyone down! I've got it!"
A dome of Celestial energy expanded, blocking the brunt of the explosion. But cracks spiderwebbed through the shield.
Tony (gritting): "…Don't make me regret overclocking this thing!"
[Scene 6 – Final Clash]
Neo stepped forward through the smoke, Aeternus reverting into a one-handed blade. His haki burned brighter, merging with nihility's void.
Neo (to Clint): "…I'll end this fast. You deserve better than being a puppet."
He vanished in a burst of speed—clashing with Clint's final corrupted arrow midair. The collision split the sky with a thunderous crack. When the light faded, Hawkeye fell to the ground unconscious, the corruption around his body flickering like dying embers.
The Monument pulsed one last time… then cracked, collapsing into dust.
[Scene 7 – Aftermath, For Now]
Silence washed over the battlefield. The civilians were safe. The corruption receded, though not gone entirely.
Steve (kneeling beside Clint, relieved): "He's breathing. We got him back."
Natasha (quietly, shaken but firm): "…I knew you'd hold out, Barton."
The group stood in the ruins of the capital, victory won but exhaustion heavy. And deep in Neo's chest, Seraphina's voice whispered with sharp clarity:
Seraphina: «The anomaly adapts. Stronger fights await. This was only a test.»
Neo exhaled, Aeternus fading into pure light.
Neo: "…Then let's be ready for the real war."
✨ End of Chapter 36 – Battle for D.C. ✨
📖 Arc 2 – Chapter 37: Hawkeye's Return
[Scene 1 – Recovery]
Clint's body twitched as the last threads of corruption burned away, leaving only pale scars on his skin. Natasha knelt by his side, gripping his hand tight.
Clint (hoarse, weak): "…Red…? You're real, right?"
Natasha (eyes shining, voice trembling): "Always. And you're not dying on me again."
Steve crouched nearby, relief clear in his tone.
Steve: "Welcome back, Barton. You gave us one hell of a scare."
Thor's laughter boomed, though softer than usual, meant to break the tension.
Thor: "A warrior's spirit indeed. Even in chains, you refused to fall."
Clint blinked up at all of them, then glanced past—spotting Neo, Aeternus dissolving back into light. His brow furrowed.
Clint: "…And who the hell are you supposed to be?"
Neo (calmly, meeting his gaze): "Someone who's fighting the same enemy as you. That's all that matters right now."
[Scene 2 – The Chat Group Announcement]
The air shimmered suddenly. A familiar mechanical chime rang in every member's ears.
[Ding!] Group Mission Progress Update:
Purification Success — Corrupted Avenger Recovered: Clint Barton (Hawkeye)
Partial Reward Issued:
– All Members: Comprehensive enhancement of physical body, soul vessel, and adaptability to hostile energies.
– Secondary Reward: Group Synergy Boost — resonance rate increased by 35%.
– Special Clause: Resistance to Corruption has been permanently heightened.
Everyone's bodies glowed faintly, golden light sinking into their veins.
• Steve felt his muscles tighten with fresh strength, the weight of his shield now feather-light.
• Natasha noticed her reflexes sharpening, her body more responsive than ever.
• Thor's aura flared, his lightning responding instantly to his call, faster and sharper.
• Tony's armor synced seamlessly with his body, reaction lag vanishing like it never existed.
• Zhongli stood calmly, but even he felt his geo constructs pulse with deeper resonance.
• Velgrynd inhaled, fire surging smoother through her veins. "…Even my flames feel sharper."
• Neo felt the deepest change—his vessel pulsing as nihility threads wove tighter into his existence, his adaptability spiking.
Seraphina (inside Neo's mind): «Adaptation protocols improving. Your vessel is closer to what the Chat Group intends… though still imperfect.»
Neo flexed his fingers, exhaling slowly. "…It's like my body is learning how to carry more."
[Scene 3 – The Emotional Reunion]
Clint sat up slowly, still shaky, but Natasha refused to let go of him. He finally managed a weak smile.
Clint: "…Guess I owe you one, huh?"
Natasha (firm, voice breaking slightly): "You owe me nothing. Just… stay alive this time."
Steve clasped Clint's shoulder with a brotherly grip.
Steve: "We'll catch you up. There's a lot you need to know."
Clint looked around, eyes lingering on Neo, Velgrynd, and Zhongli—the newcomers. His instincts screamed caution, but he trusted Natasha and Steve's calmness.
Clint (dryly): "…I take it the world's gotten weirder while I was gone."
Tony (snorting, arms crossed): "Buddy, you don't even know the half of it."
[Scene 4 – Reflection and Resolve]
The group gathered briefly in the ruins of D.C., civilians evacuated, the corruption retreating like smoke after fire.
Natasha (to Clint): "We'll explain everything. But the corruption's not done. Not even close."
Clint (nodding, grimly serious): "…Then I'm not sitting out. If I was pulled into this mess, I'll fight my way through it too."
Neo leaned on Aeternus, watching the group—their bonds, their trust, their resilience even against impossible odds.
Neo (to himself, low): "…This is why they can't fall."
Seraphina: «And why you cannot fail. Adaptation is only the first step.»
Velgrynd folded her arms, smirking faintly at Clint.
Velgrynd: "Hawk, was it? Don't get in Neo's way, and maybe you'll live to tell the story."
Clint (raising an eyebrow): "…Do I even want to know what she's supposed to be?"
Tony (deadpan): "Dragon goddess. Don't think too hard about it."
The group's laughter—exhausted, but real—echoed through the battered streets.
For a moment, amidst the ruin, there was hope.
✨ End of Chapter 37 – Hawkeye's Return ✨
📖 Arc 2 – Chapter 38: Preparing the Next Hunt
[Scene 1 – Quiet Aftermath]
The night in D.C. was unnaturally still. Emergency lights glowed faintly in the distance, but the battle's echoes had finally quieted. The group relocated to a temporary safe zone — a secure facility Tony had repurposed with Stark-tech shielding against corruption bleed.
Everyone was tired, but nobody could afford to stop. The corruption wasn't waiting.
Steve set his shield down with a heavy sigh.
Steve: "Three down. Natasha, Thor, Clint. That's progress… but how many more are still missing?"
[Scene 2 – Counting the Missing Avengers]
Tony tapped a holographic interface, projecting silhouettes.
• Bruce Banner / Hulk – Last trace near a research facility.
• Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch – Power readings gone haywire in the east.
• Vision – No signal detected. Possibly corrupted beyond normal trace.
• Doctor Strange – Sanctum readings overwhelmed by anomalies.
• Sam Wilson / Falcon – Presumed MIA after New York incident.
Tony (grim): "That's at least five heavy hitters still unaccounted for. And the kicker? They're exactly the kind who'd make this corruption worse if it's feeding off their power."
Natasha glanced at Clint, worry flickering in her eyes.
Natasha: "If it could twist me, Thor, and Clint… what's it doing to Wanda?"
The silence in the room grew heavy. Even Velgrynd frowned, arms crossed.
Velgrynd: "…That woman's chaos magic felt dangerous even from your world's records. If she's taken… the corruption will bloom like wildfire."
[Scene 3 – Training with Adaptability]
Zhongli broke the silence, speaking calmly.
Zhongli: "We cannot afford despair. The Chat Group has granted us adaptability. Let us test it."
They moved to the facility's training chamber — reinforced with Stark alloys and layered with Neo's temporary Nihility wards.
• Steve struck faster than before, his shield ricocheting at impossible angles.
• Natasha blurred through sparring dummies, her new body speed sharper than human limits.
• Thor unleashed controlled bursts of lightning, now more focused than raw.
• Tony's armor responded like an extension of his body, fluid, almost instinctive.
• Clint, newly recovered, drew and fired arrows at blinding speed, his aim sharper even after corruption.
And Neo—
He held out his hand. A void spark of Nihility/Turn Null flickered, unstable but steady enough not to rupture the chamber. His vessel — Rimuru-like, yet his own — pulsed in sync with Seraphina's guiding voice.
Seraphina: «Adaptation rate: 43% and climbing. With your current vessel, you can sustain energy output for longer without collapse. Still, true fusion with the Dragon Factor has not been reached.»
Neo clenched his fist, compressing the void into a small orb before extinguishing it.
Neo (quietly): "…Pathetic, compared to what this energy was meant for. But at least it's progress."
[Scene 4 – Soul Corridor Training]
The group re-linked their Soul Corridor, letting Seraphina guide resonance drills.
She created trial simulations —
• Clint working in tandem with Natasha again, their attacks blending seamlessly.
• Thor and Steve practicing shield + hammer resonance strikes.
• Tony and Zhongli building coordinated defense-offense grids.
• Velgrynd and Neo pushing raw destructive resonance without collapsing the chamber.
Seraphina's calm voice echoed in all their minds.
Seraphina: «Your adaptability is progressing. By linking resonance, your powers multiply exponentially. But beware — the corruption will adapt as well.»
[Scene 5 – Final Reflections]
Later, as the group sat together, exhaustion visible, Clint finally asked the question that lingered.
Clint: "…How many more of us are we gonna have to save before this ends?"
Steve leaned forward, voice resolute.
Steve: "All of them. No matter how long it takes."
Natasha nodded firmly.
Natasha: "We don't leave family behind. Not ever."
Neo stood, Aeternus shimmering faintly on his back. His gaze burned.
Neo: "…Then we prepare. Every second we waste is another Avenger falling deeper into corruption. Next time, we move fast, and we move smart."
Velgrynd smirked, flames sparking at her fingertips.
Velgrynd: "Good. I was starting to get bored."
The group's determination hardened in unison. The storm wasn't over—this was just the eye.
✨ End of Chapter 38 – Preparing the Next Hunt ✨
📖 Arc 2 – Chapter 39: Optimization and Chaos Unleashed
[Scene 1 – Seraphina's Optimization]
The safehouse hummed with quiet energy as the group gathered in the training chamber again. Neo stood at the center, eyes closed, as Manas: Seraphina spread her influence through the Soul Corridor that linked them all.
Seraphina (calm, analytical):
«Beginning full optimization sequence. Target: reduce risk of collapse, refine adaptability upgrades, and stabilize resonance patterns.»
Golden-blue fractals of data swirled in the air as she touched each member in turn.
• Steve's shield shimmered, its vibrational harmony now absorbing more impact without draining his stamina.
• Natasha's body adjusted; her reflexes no longer burned energy dangerously fast.
• Clint's archery gained micro-adjustments, his arrows auto-stabilized mid-flight.
• Thor's lightning condensed into purer strikes, less collateral, more precision.
• Tony's armor synced deeper with his nervous system, feedback lag completely erased.
• Velgrynd's dragon flames folded into controlled streams, still devastating but less earth-shattering.
And Neo himself—
Seraphina: «Integration between Dragon Factor and Nihility Vessel is at 58%. Cocoon pulses harmonized with your Ultimate Skills. Risk of internal backlash: reduced. Weapon Aeternus will now safely channel multiple energy types simultaneously.»
Neo opened his eyes as the compressed void weapon vibrated faintly, glowing with refined edges.
Neo: "…Feels smoother. Like the blade's breathing with me."
Velgrynd smirked approvingly.
Velgrynd: "About time. I was starting to wonder if that thing was going to tear you apart before you could swing it properly."
[Scene 2 – Alert of the Next Raid]
Before the group could catch their breath, the Chat Group's window flared open in their minds.
[System Notice]:
⚠️ Corruption Spike Detected — Location: Eastern Seaboard, U.S.A.
⚠️ Multiple Avenger-Class Targets Present
Tony (grimacing): "…That's not just one. That's two signals overlapping."
Steve: "Who?"
Tony's hologram zoomed in on the corrupted zone. A massive green silhouette tore through skyscrapers, while scarlet distortions crackled in the air.
Tony: "…Banner. And Wanda."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Clint (mutters): "…This is gonna hurt."
[Scene 3 – Arrival at the Corruption Zone]
The team's teleport circle, powered by Seraphina's optimization of Neo's Nihility compression, flared to life. In a blink, they landed on the streets of the Eastern Seaboard.
The city was hell.
• Hulk rampaged through buildings, his skin glowing black-green with corruption, each roar splitting the air like an earthquake.
• Wanda, floating above the chaos, her eyes glowing crimson void. Scarlet tendrils of corruption pulsed out from her hands, reality warping with every gesture.
Natasha (gritting her teeth): "…She doesn't even look human anymore."
Steve tightened his grip on his shield. "Then we remind them who they are. Together."
[Scene 4 – The Battle Begins]
The ground split as Hulk slammed down, forcing the group to scatter. Wanda's corrupted magic followed instantly, layering hex-traps through the battlefield.
• Steve and Natasha took point, drawing Hulk's attention, shield deflecting his blows while Natasha darted between the shockwaves.
• Clint provided cover fire, arrows exploding in controlled bursts to break Wanda's hex fields.
• Thor soared upward, his lightning clashing directly against Wanda's scarlet storm.
• Tony, in Celestial Armor, unleashed concentrated blasts to keep Wanda's attention split.
• Velgrynd roared, dragonfire searing a path to clear space for the others.
And Neo—
Neo (calling out): "Seraphina, sync Aeternus with group resonance!"
Seraphina: «Confirmed. Channeling adaptability resonance. Warning: Hulk's corrupted aura is destabilizing nearby Nihility threads.»
Neo (grits teeth): "…Doesn't matter. Push it through!"
Aeternus pulsed, coated in both Dragon Spirit Haki and compressed void-light, striking Hulk across the chest with enough force to stagger him—something that seemed impossible before.
But Wanda shrieked, lashing out, warping the ground beneath them. Buildings folded inward, like paper burning in reverse.
Velgrynd (snarling): "Her chaos is feeding the corruption—if she keeps going, the city itself will collapse into nothing!"
[Scene 5 – Cliffhanger]
Hulk roared again, slamming his fists and sending shockwaves that knocked several Avengers back. At the same time, Wanda's scarlet void formed into a massive sphere, pulsing with unstable multiversal energy.
Steve (shouting): "She's going to wipe everything in range—!"
Neo planted his sword, Aeternus glowing dangerously as Nihility surged.
Neo: "…Then we'll stop them both here. No matter what it takes."
The battlefield quaked, both corrupted Avengers bearing down on the group at once.
✨ End of Chapter 39 – Optimization and Chaos Unleashed ✨
Chapter 40 – The Void Unleashed
The battlefield was chaos split in two, yet all threads were destined to collide.
On one side, Velgrynd soared like a blazing comet, wings radiating draconic heat. Every movement of hers scorched the corrupted Hulk, who roared with unrelenting fury. His corruption made him even more brutal—every strike of his fists cracked the earth like meteors striking bedrock.
Thor clashed with him directly, Mjölnir ringing with sparks each time it met Hulk's fist. Natasha provided cover fire, but even her precision couldn't slow him.
"He's fighting like he doesn't even feel pain anymore!" Thor gritted, barely keeping Hulk from crushing him.
Velgrynd's flames licked against Hulk's skin, only for the corruption to harden and regenerate the damage instantly. "His rage is amplifying the corruption. If we don't end this quickly, he'll burn the entire city down just by existing!"
On the other side of the battlefield, Neo stood against Wanda Maximoff. Her chaos magic, twisted by corruption, raged like a living storm. Red distortions cracked the sky, pulling fragments of alternate realities into existence before collapsing them.
"You… don't belong here!" her voice fractured across multiple layers of reality, as if a dozen Wandas screamed in unison.
Neo's weapon, Aeternus, thrummed in his hand. Every swing carved into the anomalies, but Wanda's distortions reformed them with a flick of her hand.
It wasn't enough. Not like this.
"Seraphina," Neo muttered.
[Acknowledged. Adaptation threshold surpassed—52%. Authorization for Azathoth, God of the Void: Granted.]
Neo's aura shifted.
The world seemed to stop breathing as a ripple of nothingness spread outward. Velgrynd froze mid-swing, Thor stumbled, and even Hulk hesitated as the void pressed against his corrupted rage. Wanda instinctively recoiled, her storm faltering.
Neo opened his eyes—twin singularities burning with collapsing stars.
"Ultimate Skill: Azathoth, God of the Void."
🌀 A Battlefield Divided
• Neo invoked Imaginary Space, sealing himself and Wanda inside a pocket dimension. Reality folded away, isolating them completely.
• Wanda screamed and summoned dozens of her corrupted illusions, each one warping chaos into weapons. Neo's blade drank them all. Soul Consumption devoured both their bodies and corrupted essences, leaving nothing behind.
Meanwhile—
Hulk roared louder, resisting Velgrynd's flames with sheer brute force. His corrupted rage swelled until even Thor was knocked back. He slammed his fists into the ground, sending shockwaves that collapsed entire buildings.
Velgrynd snarled. "He's going berserk! Neo, if you don't finish soon, I'll be forced to burn him to ash!"
Neo's voice echoed from within the void. "Bring him to me."
🌌 The Convergence
Wanda's resistance shattered under Nihility Collapse—Neo's strikes weaving destruction and rebirth simultaneously. Her illusions broke apart, her corruption unraveling into motes of crimson glass. She collapsed, gasping, her chaos finally silenced.
As the Imaginary Space cracked open, Velgrynd and Thor forced Hulk into its collapsing edge. Neo turned toward the green giant, Aeternus glowing with void-light and dragonfire.
Hulk roared, his corrupted body swelling even larger as the anomaly within him reacted violently. He charged, fists like mountains.
Neo raised Aeternus.
"True Dragon Release [Scorch]."
His sword erupted in a wave of annihilating void-flame, swallowing Hulk whole. The corruption fought back, screaming through Hulk's veins, but Soul Consumption reached deeper—devouring not just flesh, but the twisted essence binding him.
The corrupted energy burned away. Hulk roared one last time—this time not in rage, but in freedom—before collapsing unconscious, purified.
⚖ Aftermath
The battlefield stilled. The storm dissolved. Neo lowered Aeternus, his body trembling slightly, but still standing.
[Analysis: Purification successful. Synchronization now at 53.4%. Adaptation stable. Growth trajectory continues.]
Velgrynd exhaled deeply, watching Hulk's massive body shrink slightly as the corruption left him. "You did it."
Thor knelt beside his friend, relief breaking across his face. "By Odin's beard… Banner, you're back."
Wanda lay not far away, breathing weakly, her crimson eyes now clear.
Neo sheathed Aeternus, his gaze firm. "That's two down."
But inside, he knew this was only the beginning. Azathoth wasn't his ceiling—it was just the start of something far greater.
And the corruption wasn't done with this world. Not yet.